Park District Draws 84 for First Senior Games

6/24/2015

Chicago Tribune — NAPERVILLE, IL — June 24, 2015 —

"Golf is Arthur Hawksley's sport of choice. He said he hits the putting green about every other day. The three-hole course is on the property of Silverado Naperville, a residential community on the city's northwest side that provides care for people with dementia and other conditions that affect memory. It's where the 86-year-old lives.

So when he came out Wednesday to take part in the pingpong event of the Naperville Park District's inaugural senior games, Hawksley wasn't expecting to finish first.

'Got smoked,' the retired former longtime General Motors employee said.

He enjoyed the event anyway, he said, and other players said the same. Some of them had a chance to practice a bit before coming to the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center for the event.

'We have pingpong at our home, so we get to play,' said Sheila Ferguson, 70, who also lives at Silverado.

Her opponent, 83-year-old east Naperville resident Rosie Eiler, outplayed Ferguson in the ladies' competition, but it was all in fun. Even Vernie Oehler, who lived in North Aurora before moving to Silverado, said she enjoyed herself despite not winning..."